The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Stetson University College of Law form new partnership

Image of Judith Scully, Marlene Spalten, Michele Alexandre and Jesse Coraggio.
From left: Professor Judith Scully, Stetson University College of Law; Marlene Spalten, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay President and CEO; Michèle Alexandre, Dean, Stetson University College of Law; and Jesse Coraggio, VP, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.

The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Stetson University College of Law have formed a new partnership to benefit the Tampa Bay area. The two organizations have created the Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy, which will align the power of advocacy with the heart of philanthropy. This new alliance reflects both organizations’ longstanding commitment to addressing important issues for an even more vibrant community.

The Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy is a collaborative partnership, which makes a strong case for creating positive change through the lens of activism and the spirit of giving.  The Alliance is a unique initiative to engage the community and spark deep discussion through:

  • Connection, by building partnerships and leveraging resources to enhance the common good;
  • Education, by developing self-advocacy and institutional capacity through access to experts and educational opportunities; and
  • Collaboration, by providing pathways for members of the community as well as students to become actively involved. 

“This partnership is an incredible opportunity for our students and our community,” said Michèle Alexandre, dean of Stetson University College of Law. “Working together, we can empower the next generation of nonprofit and Tampa Bay leaders to become effective community advocates, which will have a positive impact on our region.”

Fellowships and office space part of the deal

As part of the collaboration, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay will offer two paid fellowships each semester for students attending Stetson University College of Law. The two fellowships will begin in spring 2020, and students will gain an in-depth understanding of community philanthropy and have hands-on experience in working with nonprofit organizations.

In addition, Stetson University College of Law is providing office space at its Gulfport campus for the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. Stetson also will provide meeting and conference space to the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay at its Gulfport and downtown Tampa campuses.

The general public, local nonprofits, and corporations will have opportunities to take part in conversations sparked by the Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy during events held at Stetson University College of Law.

Marlene Spalten, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, said, “We look forward to working with Florida’s first law school to create opportunities for our region, to discuss communitywide challenges and possible solutions, and to promote the economic health and vitality of Tampa Bay through an innovative program.”

“We look forward to working with Florida’s first law school to create opportunities for our region, to discuss community wide challenges and possible solutions, and to promote the economic health and vitality of Tampa Bay through an innovative program.”

Marlene Spalten, president and CEO of CFTB

About the organizations

The Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy formalizes the organizations’ shared belief in aligning resources and investing in advocacy, thought leadership, and programs to solve community challenges. The partnership will include pro bono program opportunities for students to support Tampa Bay area not-for-profits.  Faculty and students at Stetson University College of Law provide more than 30,000 hours of pro bono legal and advocacy services through various institutes, programs and centers, including the Veterans Law Institute, Center for Excellence in Advocacy, the Social Justice Advocacy Program the Center for Excellence in Elder Law, etc.

The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay awards about $20 million each year to nonprofit organizations. Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, the Community Foundation has granted more than $230 million.